Sis (Part 1)

It is going to be a hectic two weeks...

I will be leaving for the Philippines on the 27th and this Saturday my sister will be getting married... that's right, married.

People are always asking me, "Hey Micah! How does it feel knowing your sister is getting married?" I always look at them with a tiny smirk and my response has always been the same, "It hasn't hit me yet."

Which is true, it just hasn't hit me yet that my sister is getting married. I know that eventually I'll realize it, but as of now, things just feel as normal as usual.

Whenever I'm asked this question, it makes me ponder about what exactly my response should be to my sister getting married. So if you care to take the time, let us figure it out together...

What would you say if the person that you talked the most to, spent the most time with, the most games with, fought the most with, looked up to (as kids this was literal) and were most concerned about were finally about to leave you?

Yah, you would be at a loss for words too I suppose.

Yes, I've heard the whole, "You're-not-losing-a-sister-but-gaining-a-brother" speech, but the reality is my sister is leaving and cleaving, and that is what she should be doing. So people are always asking me what I think about this whole ordeal, and every time they pose the question, I stop and think about two things: I remember our past and think about the future. As we dissect this, lets discuss the past and I'll probably blog about the future later...

I grew up in the same house with this person for 22 years. It is funny to think about how the person you shared a bathroom with is finally getting one of her own. (Actually, she'll still be sharing one).

Anyways, when you look back at old pictures in albums and old videos, you are just hit with so many memories that come flooding back into your mind almost without ceasing. You are greeted by old friends, people, toys, parties, and places that have turned you into the person that you are today. It is amazing how everyone has changed SO much in just a single decade. Friends and family have come and gone, people who you thought would never turn their back on the Lord, have now embrace a life of worldliness, and even the most unlikely people from your past have now become your closest of brothers. Despite all the change that has happened, there has always been one person that has always been there. She is the one that always stuck close. I have lost many friends and so-called "brothers," but the one person that has endured it all with me was her.

Looking back, you can't help but talk about the things that stick out the most...

Recreation was frequent with us. Since both our imaginations were crazy, the sky was the limit on the games that we would come up with. This ranged from playing with cut out paper bunnies, to talking beanie babies, from funny little Legos, and to regular Nintendo (That last one didn't need much imagination). Even though we didn't have a big family, as a kid, I was content with just hangin' out and chilling with my sister.

We didn't have deep meaningful conversations back then, but arguing was like our religion. In our anger, we used TV remotes and small (sometimes sharp) objects as projectiles in order to settle our many disputes. And even after hurting each others feelings, we never ever ever apologized. Haha! Elementary kids have so much pride (How foolish were we!). I wasn't even allowed to call her "Ate" as our culture demands, so I resorted to the American vernacular of "Sis" which is short for "Sister" for those of you a little slow in understanding slang. It was such an exciting time...

As teenagers, life was changing fast. We both couldn't wait for her to get her license. We needed transportation, and we needed it now! Like typical teenagers, each of us had our own problems and issues in middle school and high school and having a brother and sister seemed to be both a blessing and a curse. We loved having a sibling to talk to but for most of the time we just got in each other's way and on each other's nerves.

Serving in church and CPYF was probably the time of our lives. Great fellowship with family in Christ was the highlight of our weeks. We served in the same ministries at church, we hung out with our humungo family, and we ate a lot of food, we couldn't have asked for anything sweeter! (Life was so chill as a kid in ignorance.) My sister would be my number one clothes consultant (and still is) all because of my fashion handicap in my high school years. The high school years (her early college years) were great, and it was good to have someone who made all the mistakes before me so that I wouldn't have to. And this definitely wouldn't help our arguments. Having an older sibling had its downs but it also had its ups.

Though we have had our differences, we had (still have) a deep understanding between the two us. And I can't really explain it in words but we kind of always knew how each other felt. Especially when our parents or other people didn't understand how we felt, we always sympathized with each other. When I'd get upset, my frustration would affect my grammar, and I wouldn't be able to express in words how I felt at that moment. My speech didn't even sound like English anymore! Yet through all the jumbled words, she always understood exactly what I meant no matter how crazy it sounded. If we couldn't express how we felt in words to the people that didn't understand us, all we would have to do was look in each others eyes and we would completely understand each other. It was almost as if once we made eye contact we nonverbally communicated the phrase, "It's okay, I know how you feel." To this day, we still have this understanding with each other that I just cannot explain.

These recent past years have probably been the most dear to me. This is probably because I became a TRUE believer in the Lord Jesus Christ during my college years. The Gospel has shed light upon my dark and sinful eyes and I have learned so much in the recent years than I have my entire life. The best part of it all is that I wasn't alone in this. The same person that I physically grew up with was also someone who was growing up with me spiritually. The relationship that we had back then is nothing compared to what we have now. I have the privilege of calling my blood-sister a sister in Christ and I praise God for that gracious gift knowing that many others do not have this same blessing.

What drives me to write this blog is that I love my sister more than I did before. Having gone through so many trials and difficulties, it is so good to have a sister who has ran the race with you for so long without quitting. I cannot explain how encouraging it is to see someone transformed by the grace of God right before your very eyes. My prayer is that God will see us both to the end.

Since my regeneration, I truly understand how I am suppose to love her as a brother. I respect my sister so much because of her desire to seek and please the Lord in every aspect of her life. Though she may not speak as sternly as many other women do, she is much much stronger than them, and that is because of her love for Christ. A woman's strength isn't measured by charm or outward beauty, but in her submission to the Lord. I praise God for my sister who is seeking holiness when many others are not. In these last days, she is indeed a rare breed. Though she be an imperfect person, she is the Godliest woman that I know, and knowing this only makes me thank the Lord every day for her life and for her great influence on me. May she do wonderful things for the Kingdom.

Father, thank you for your grace in the form of my sister. I cannot praise you enough for your lovingkindess in her life. May You always help her and keep her to the very end so that she may finish the race without regret. My petition is that all would know that she is a disciple of yours through her love for others and her love for You. Guard her from sin, and may her ambition be to deny her flesh and cherish You above all things.

-Micah